Any of you watch the night sky the way I do? Venus and Jupiter put on a spectacular display the last few weeks. Here’s a link that let’s you see the sight from different places all around the world. It’s magical.

If you missed the podcast, and were heartbroken about it, click here. Diana Gill hosted Jeaniene Frost, Rachel Vincent, Jenna Black and I in a spirited discussion about first books in a series. Go ahead, you know you want to.

And on Dec 23rd, at noon EST I’ll be posting an excerpt from Legacy on Lizzie T’s 12 Hours of Christmas. Here’s the pitch:

Join Lizzie T. Leaf and a lot of her author friends for 12 hours of prizes, excerpts and fun. Opportunities to win every hour. All you have to do to enter is answer the question asked at the top of each hour. After the next question is posted, winners will be drawn from all who responded to the prior question.

No one is safe. The FBI is getting targeted by spam—no, Jeff, not the canned meat “product.” But, seriously, wouldn’t you be just a little leery getting a message “from an alleged FBI unit in Nigeria, (to) confirm an inheritance?” Come on…

Here’s something for Leia and Gina—music boxes from old books. We’d discussed books as art and I’d say these qualify. The artist is Jenifer Khoshbin.

I’m not a Stephaie Plum fan but I know a lot of you are so here’s a Xmas card for you.

Do You Believe??? If so you can join an experiment that “uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data.”

From their website: SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is a scientific area whose goal is to detect intelligent life outside Earth. One approach, known as radio SETI, uses radio telescopes to listen for narrow-bandwidth radio signals from space. Such signals are not known to occur naturally, so a detection would provide evidence of extraterrestrial technology.

Sign on here. I’m not sure I’m ready yet. Just one more excuse to avoid writing. If YOU do, though, let me know how it works. And if you spot something…

From the Whedonverse:

Dollhouse paperdolls! I presume this is so you can act the stories at home as you watch on TV—I presume. Eliza Dushku’s character, Echo, isn’t up yet.

Whedon on the Friday night slot (thanks to Carol Malcolm for sending this.) The most important line: "Dollhouse" premieres Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Anthony Head speaking on Dec 10th: Anthony also spoke about the possibility in starring in a spin-off of ’Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ focusing entirely on his character, librarian Rupert Giles.

He added to BANG Showbiz: "It’s long been rumoured. I talked to the writer Joss Whedon the other day because there were rumours on the internet there must be a ’Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ movie coming out after ’Twilight’, but there isn’t.

"But he said he would still like to do this thing with me so it may or may not happen. I would do anything to work with Joss again, he is a really lovely guy and a great creative mind."

Damn. I kept hoping.

Something for Mario—Came in on my website from Casey Grabiel. I know I shouldn’t have laughed, but damn it, I did. Santa, does this mean I get coal in my stocking?

In a bold move, Samhain Publishing (www.samhainpublishing.com) announced the purchase of Linden Bay Romance (http://lindenbayromance.com/). In light of the downward spiral of the economy and the rapid consolidation of many of the larger publishers, Samhain Publishing has seized their chance to expand their market share by creating a new fiction line under the popular Samhain brand.

“We hadn't considered selling Linden Bay and we were slowly making inroads with regards to increasing print distribution, but we've found, especially in light of the economy, neither sales teams nor buyers are very open to taking a chance on a smaller, less established press," says Lori James, part owner of Linden Bay Romances. "Samhain Publishing has the relationships in place that would take us years to develop." James continues, "The offer came at a time when we realized under the Samhain umbrella, Linden Bay Romances will be stronger and reach its full potential faster."

"For Samhain, it is a win-win situation," says Brashear. "We will expand our lines with an established name in the electronic book industry and we'll acquire an excellent stable of authors, editors and artists."

Lori is a friend of mine. She reports the bookstore is still up and running.

Oh, oh!!! Something else for Mario. He’s always lamenting on his lack of a love life. I’ll bet she’d give him a run for his (life) money. Now if she was wearing red pumps and a bustier, she’d probably have a shot.

I will return (when I'm not at work) to read everything you wrote, but Jeanne ... those music boxes are amazing! I clearly have been lax in seeing out book arts inspiration and you may have kick started that again. thanks for the post :D

I know, I know....and sometimes (nono say it ain't so....no really it is true...no it's heresy) the story inside isn't really all that worth saving. That it may have been perfectly lovely in it's day but didn't age well, so to speak. (Foul thoughts, now *I* am going to hell.)

It's the frustrated librarian in me. No, the book lover. Well, both. Fiercely irrational about old books.

I will likely join you, I snort laughed @ the GI Joe pic....I have to be careful...I am viewing it up here in Boulder....Told DH about The Dollhouse. I will make him an Echo paperdoll when she becomes available. He lubs her....Good to know I have something to look forward to in Feb. And all I want for Christmas is for Joss to change his mind about a Buffy flick.

@ Gina - the librarian in me (my first job ever .. well clearly didn't have a masters so I suppose I was a library assistant :/ ) Is fiercely protective of old books and I have a pretty descent collection of them. Nothing makes me more angry than the time I was photographing a historic home's book collection for their records only to discover that someone had knowingly written notes about the books history just inside teh books cover in ballpoint pen. Oh i was livid. Now how that reconciles with my fascination with projects like these music boxes or other art works that require dismantling a text block I have no clue. I guess in a way you can consider these works giving that books another lease on life when otherwise they would have just ended up in the land fill. How doe that work for self justification?

@ Jeanne - you were spot on :) Also I saw that picture with the G.I.Joe toys and the Squirrel a few days ago. At first glance It hought it was two men and thig giant woodland creature. I was like "ahhhhh all those Sci-Fi Channel 'B' movies I watched were prophetic after all!"

Leia said: Also I'm just going to take a moment to say that Joss Whedon is a serious cutie. Ok. I'm done.

And I got to meet hinm at ComicCon a couple of years ago-- talk about being a geek. I was so excited I just grined like an idiot and shook all over. And truth be told, he gives off a serious geek vibe too, in spite of all his coolness.

Vickie said: DH can have the Echo doll, if he gives me the Spike action figure from Buffy.....

I have one of those!!! The one with Spike in Xander's Hawaiian shirt--but it also included his duster and a big gun and the talisman from the last Buffy episode.

Of course, I have him dressed in the duster. I have coveted one of those since I first saw it. Can you imagine what it would be like to wear Spike's? I'll bet it smells like him--musk and leather and sweat and blood--

J: Nope, nothing wrong with you. I have some para-olfactory Spike moments. I will have mine one day...oh yes, it will be mine. I liked the episode when he was dressing in Xander's schtuff. Rather endearing in a weird kind of way....I have a thing for cheesy Hawaiian shirts and a definite thing for Spike....

I've never gotten into BSG -- only watched the very first episode -- well I admit it's my own stubbornness because they made Starbuck a GIRL. Horrors. Heresy. I loves me some Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. I hearted him big in the 70s back when I was a young one barely old enough to have girlish crushes.

You HAVE to watch B5. OK, I'll admit it. It's on my top shelf with LOTR. Star Trek is on the next shelf below it. I like B5 better than Trek. It's a complete, 5 year story that goes into some really brave, dark places.

In other news, after I finish my little mind break and tidy my desk, no more day job til 2009! Yay, ready to vacation.

Okay, Gina, you've convinced me. B% will be my reward for finishing the rewrites of book five and getting back to the writing of book six-- stalled because of the rewrites on book five. It's a vicious circle--

His cheek bones are his best feature aren't they? I mean besidesthe sarcastic wit and his irrational love for Passions (which my old roomie watched before it went off the air - making it all the more hilarious).

Anybody here ever watch Earth Final Conflict when it was on? was EFC ever relased on DVD? I'd love to get my hands on that.

@ Gine : I too hated DS9 for a very long time ... then I started catching it on spike on a regular basis for a while and was pulled over to the darkside. It is certainly one of the better Trek series. However, I still thing Next Generation is the best b/c they have Data. I have an irrational, all encompassing love for Data and will nto be swayed. Plus I mena, Jean-Luc Picard my friends. And Data.

I watched EFC but stopped pretty quickly. Not sure if it is on dvd or not -- try searching for it on amazon.

I am just not sure which is the best ST -- I now have the complete TNG on dvd and need to watch -- I've seen most of TNG but not all compressed like that. Need to get Voyager and Enterprise -- I estimate I've only seen about 50% of both.

I love TOS like one loves a senile old war hero uncle -- proud, a little embarrassed, loyal though I know I don't love him best.

Gina said: Here's another little tidbit: DS9 was the Trekiverse trying to compete with B5.

I didn't realize how MANY series were spun off ST! I have a lot of catching up to do...wonder if I'll ever have the time to do it.

Leia said:I still thing Next Generation is the best b/c they have Data. I have an irrational, all encompassing love for Data and will nto be swayed. Plus I mena, Jean-Luc Picard my friends. And Data.

I DO like Jean-Luc. Data had to grow on me, but Jean-Luc....

PS Gina-- If you watch the entire Buffyverse (as I have--many times) you'll be sold. I even alternate between the Angel and Buffy shows after the Buffy Season 3 spin=off. It's like discovering a new author and finding out they have a series of twenty books and you get to devour all of them at once. I have continued on with the Buffy and Angel graphic novels, but, sadly, it isn't the same...

@ Jeanne, - just realized how many typos my post had! That will teach me to read and post comments while at work (yeah right.)

J-L Picard is probably my second favorite. I'm not quite certain what Data has going for him. I mean he's very intelligent (go figure) and has pasty white skin. Wait a second! I know know where my thing for geeks came from. I'm beginning to realize just *how much* what we see in our early years influences our lives. If I had not seen SWIV: A New Hope at age 4, If my next door neighbor hadn't played with X-men toys when I was three, if my neighbor hadn't had the first gameboy or SNES ... my life could have turned out completely different than it has. I could be obsessed with my hair and dreaming of shopping malls instead of wearing black and doing Elvish calligraphy ...

@Gina - The Buffy-verse is indeed engaging. I own the first five seasons and have been buying the 8the season in comic form. After Buffy season3 it really does benefit you )as Jeanne mentioned) to watch Buffy and Angel alternately through the end. Since there were a number of physical crossovers (and then implied crossovers once Buffy went to UPN ... remember UPN?) it can cause minor confusion if you don't watch Buffy episode and then angel episode and then Buffy episode etc. I didn't have the freedom to do that when I indoctrinated my old roommate a few years ago b/c I didn't know anyone with the Angel DVDs. As a result a Buffy episode would show Buffy down b/c of the way something went when she was in LA and my roommate would say "wait …when was she in LA?" Then I would have to explain what happened in the Angel episode where the crossover happened lol. So either alternate shows, or watch it with your friends. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to fill in the holes ;)